Reclosable Foil Lid

ABSTRACT

A reclosable foil lid ( 5 ) for closing the mouth opening of a container, said lid comprising: a foil sheet adapted to the mouth opening of the container; and attachment means arranged to the foil sheet for reclosable attachment to the edge of the mouth opening. The invention furthermore relates to combination of a container and a reclosable foil lid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a bottom, a peripheral wall ( 2 ) extending from the bottom, wherein the upper part of the peripheral wall defines a mouth opening and wherein the reclosable foil lid is attached to the edge of the mouth opening.

The invention relates to a removable and reclosable foil lid for closing the mouth opening of a container.

Foil lids are commonly used for closing containers, which for example contains food stuffs, such as milk powder. The foil lid provides a secure closure of the container and is easily removable from the container. The only problem with foil lids according to the state of the art is that such foil lids cannot be used for reclosing the container. It is common to provide an additional cap, which can be placed over-the mouth opening of the container and which is used for reclosing the container after the foil lid has been removed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a removable and reclosable foil lid, which can be used for reclosing a container. This will remove the necessity of an additional cap resulting in a cheaper container.

The object of this invention is achieved by a reclosable foil lid comprising:

a foil sheet adapted to the mouth opening of the container; and

attachment means arranged to the foil sheet for reclosable attachment to the edge of the mouth opening.

These attachment means provide the possibility to reattach the foil sheet onto the container providing a reclosable foil lid.

In a preferred embodiment of the reclosable foil lid according to the invention the attachment means comprise a flexible lip extending at least partially along the periphery of the foil sheet. The lip is formed on the foil sheet and shaped such that the lip forms the reclosable attachment of the foil lid to the mouth opening. This flexible lip will engage onto the edge of the mouth opening and provides an additional attachment of the foil lid to the mouth opening.

In another preferred embodiment of the foil lid according to the invention the flexible lip snappingly coacts with the edge of the mouth opening. This provides for a firm attachment of the foil sheet to the container.

Preferably, the flexible lip is of a plastic. This provides some stiffness to the flexible lip and ensures that the shape of the lip will stay adapted to the shape of the mouth opening. Generally the foil sheet is of a metal, in particular aluminum. This has the dimension to wrinkle and in combination with a plastic flexible lip, the foil sheet will stay less wrinkled even after a number of reclosing actions.

The plastic flexible lip may be a preformed lip attached such as by adhesive to the foil sheet. It may have the form of a closed or interrupted lip, preferably the form is annular such as circular. Preferably the lip is formed onto the foil sheet by moulding, such as injection moulding. With all embodiments a good closure is obtained.

The invention further relates to a combination of a container and a reclosable foil lid according to the invention, wherein the container comprises a bottom, a peripheral wall extending from the bottom, wherein the upper part of the peripheral wall defines a mouth opening and wherein the reclosable foil lid is attached to the edge of the mouth opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention a part of the peripheral wall comprises an inwardly extending ring-shaped edge. Onto this ring-shaped edge the foil lid can be attached in a common way for example by adhering the foil sheet to the ring.

In a preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention the edge of the mouth opening comprises a peripheral groove in which the attachment means reclosably engage. By providing a groove the attachment means, in particular a lip, can snap into the groove and provides a good attachment onto the container. It also will provide a good sealing of the foil lid onto the container, as the attachment means can be pressed into the groove.

In a further preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention the groove is formed by a beaded edge. It is common to provide the edge of the mouth opening with a beaded edge. This is to prevent that the sharp edge of the material of the container defines the edge opening. By providing a beaded edge a more rounded edge is provided. Now by suitably arranging the beaded edge, a groove can also be provided into this edge.

In yet another embodiment of the combination according to the invention the groove is formed by a bend back portion of the edge of the mouth opening.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention the foil lid is attached to the edge of the mouth opening on either side of the groove. Specially when such a combination is sterilized the pressures present, when sterilizing such a container will attend to rip a foil lid from the edge of the mouth opening. Now by attaching the foil lid on either side of the groove a sufficient large attachment surface is provided, which can cope with the forces present when sterilizing.

Preferably the foil lid is adhered to the edge of the mouth opening.

Obviously, the container is preferably made by a process, wherein first, the flexible lip is adhered, preferably by sealing to the foil sheet. Second, the foil sheet is adhered to the ring and finally seaming the ring to the container.

Although such a combination according to the invention can be made out of any material, it is preferred to manufacture the container out of tin-plate or of plastic.

These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a combination according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a combination according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a combination according to the invention.

In FIG. 1 a cross-sectional view of a combination 1 according to the invention is shown. This combination 1 comprises a container with a peripheral wall 2 and a ring-shaped upper part 3, which is beaded to the peripheral wall 2. The inner edge 4 of the ring-like part 3 is curled, such that no sharp edges define the mouth opening of the container. On top of the ring-like part 3 a foil lid 5 is arranged, which has on the bottom side a coating 6 for adhering to the ring-like part 3. The reclosable foil lid 5 comprises a lip 7, which extends along the periphery of the edge 4 of the mouth opening. The lip 7 partially envelopes this edge 4. Of the lid 5 has been removed from the ring-like part 3 by pulling the tab 8 the foil lid can be reclosed by the flexible lip 7.

When such a combination 1 is being sterilized, the lip 7 provides some relief for the attachment of the foil lid 5 onto the ring-like part 3. Due to the shape of the lip 7 part of the pressure is transferred to the edge 4 thereby reducing the forces on the attachment zone of the attachment of the foil lid 5 onto the ring-like part 3.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment 10 according to the invention. Parts similar to the embodiment 1 according to FIG. 1 are designated with the same reference signs.

The combination 10 according to FIG. 2 has again a ring-like part 3 which is arranged to the peripheral wall 2 of the container. The edge 11 again has a curled edge, but in this embodiment provides a groove 12 in which a lip 13 of the foil lid 5 extends. This lip 13 has a notch, which hooks into the curled edge 11 providing a snapping closure for the foil lid 5.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment 20 according to the invention. Again parts similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 are designated with the same reference signs. The container has a peripheral wall 2 onto which a ring-shaped part 21 is arranged. This ring-shaped part 21 has a curled edge 22, which defines the mouth opening. The ring-like part 21 has a bend back portion 23 defining a groove. In this groove a lip 24 extends, which is attached to the foil lid 5. Again this groove and lip 24 provide a reclosable foil lid. The foil lid 5 can be adhered on either side of the groove 23 at the interfaces 25 and 26 between the foil lid 5 and the ring-like portion 21. 

1. Reclosable foil lid for closing the mouth opening of a container, said lid comprising: a foil sheet adapted to the mouth opening of the container; and—attachment means arranged to the foil sheet for reclosable attachment to the edge of the mouth opening.
 2. Reclosable foil lid according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprise a flexible lip extending at least partially along the periphery of the foil sheet.
 3. Reclosable foil lid according to claim 2, wherein the flexible lip snappingly coacts with the edge of the mouth opening.
 4. Reclosable foil lid according to claim 2, wherein the flexible lip is of a plastic
 5. Reclosable foil lid according to claim 1, wherein the foil sheet is of a metal, in particular aluminum.
 6. Reclosable foil lid according to claim 1, further comprising a tab arranged to the foil sheet.
 7. Combination of a container and a reclosable foil lid according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a bottom, a peripheral wall extending fi-om the bottom, wherein the upper part of the peripheral wall defines a mouth opening and wherein the reclosable foil lid is attached to the edge of the mouth opening.
 8. Combination according to claim 7, wherein the upper part of the peripheral wall comprises an inwardly- extending ring-shaped edge.
 9. Combination according claim 7, wherein the edge of the mouth opening comprises a peripheral groove in which the attachment means reclosably engage.
 10. Combination according to claim 9, wherein the groove is formed by a beaded edge.
 11. Combination according to claim 9, wherein the groove is formed by a bend back position of the edge of the mouth opening.
 12. Combination according to claim 9, wherein the foil lid is attached to the edge of the mouth opening on either side of the groove.
 13. Combination according to claim 7, wherein the foil lid is adhered to the edge of the mouth opening.
 14. Combination according to claim 7, wherein the container is a tin-plate can. 